Apparatus for separating ores by flotation.



E: F WM H E. T. HAULTA IN.

APPARA US FOR SEPARATING URES BY FLOTATION.

APPLICATlOH FILED APR. 19. 1915.

Patented Mar. ("3, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET lmvzzv rm HJHauM .HTTI' H"; E. T. HAULTAIN.

APPARATUS FOR SEPAHATING OHE'S BY FLOIATION APPLICATION 'HLED APR 19. l9I5-. I 1 21 8,400, Patented Mar. 6, 191 r,

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

HTTY.

HERBERT E. 'r. rmmxmm, or TORONTO. ONTARIO, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORES BY FLOTATION.

Application filed April 19, 1915. Serial No. 22,425.

To all *wlwm itmay concern:

lie it known that I. Hnmuaur E. T. HAUL- '1 .ux, of I74 (ollcge street, in the city of Toronto, county of York. Province of Ontario, Canada. a subject of the King of Great Britakin,- have invented certain new and useful Tmprm'clnents in Apparatus for Separating Ores by Flotation, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for trcating pulpcd ores for the recovery of any valuable contents separal'ile by flotation, and my object is to devise a form of apparatus which will be effective and which will possass il'lOEll. capacity in small compass.

The particles which float on the surface at the lower receptacle may be blown oil to an overflow discharge by an air current.

In the preferred arrangement, to obtain capacity, a plurality of parallel plates are employed fed from a common feed receptacle and discharging to a cor'nmonlower To obtain ellicicncy the apparatus must be arranged so that the pulp passes in series over more than one surface, This is host cllectcd hyusingthe lower receptacle of the first series of plates as the feeding recep taclc for a second series of plates which dip into a third receptacle. This in turn might be ,usedto feed a third series of plates if desired. With the multiple arrangement of plates the-air current is of particular importancc. and a series of jets is provided to blovv the floating particles at the surface of the lower rece 'itaclcs in front of theplatcs to one side, whence they can pass to the over- The appalqatus is constructed in detail substantially a'shcreinaftcr specifically tie-- scribed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sec- ,tion of a simple form of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 a front elevation ofthe same, partly in section Fig. 3 a vertical longitudinal section of a preferred form of my apparatus Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1 91 7.

Fig. 4 a front elevation partly in section of part of the same; i

Fig. 5 an end view of one of the plates;

Fig. (i a front view of a modified form of plate, and

Fig. 7 a plan view partly in section.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, 1 is a feed reservoir of any suitable construction.

having a valve controlled outlet 2 at its lower end. This outlet discharges over the upper end of the inclined plate 4. Preferably. though not necessarily, the trough $5 interposed between the outlet 2 and the plate. into which trough a water pipe 7 is led. Through this water pipe, water, either pure or previously agitated with a small quantity of oil, is introduced into the trough to mingle with-the pulped ore from the outlet 2. The trough 3 discharges on the up per end of the inclined plate 4. This plate is inclined at a suitable angle to induce an even and sufliciently rapid flow of the pulp. Angles probably of from 30 to 45 degrees to the horiontal will be suitable.

The plat is triangular in form, as shown in Fig. 2, go that pulp may be spread out in fan sha thereon so that it thins out as its distance from the feeding point increases. To obtain proper effect, the plate must be so shaped as to produce this fan-shaped flow. A preferable form of the plate is one in which it is convexly carved in cross section as indicated in Fig. The plate might either be part of the surface of :1V cylinder or a cone. preferably the former. A more or less useful ellect might be obtained by providing the surface of the plate near itsupper end with diverging ribs or depressions 8. The lowci'cnd of the plate extends Within the upper end of the lower receptacle 5 ppm;

ridcd with the overflow 9. It will be Inna that the lower end of the plate lse'xtends. below the water level in the receptacle 5.

yalvc controlled discharge opening 10. To obtain great capacity, it is ncccssarythat a This receptacle 5 is provided with the 10a multiple arrangement he employcd thcpulp being discharged to flow simultaneously over: a number of plates. My plate's'arc-so shaped that this can readily be done. A preferred arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, in which 'for tailings and surplus water is provided for this tank.

To insure that the same quality of ulp will be supplied to all the outlets 2 an 10,

I provide each of the tanks.1 and 5 with a screw conve er 14 carriedby a shaft suit-' ably journa ed in the bottom of the tank, provided with a driving pulley 15. WVhile the apparatus is in operation, these conveying screws are kept running at such speed as may be found necessary. It is important that floating particles be kept in niotion and directed as promptly as possible tothe over flows. an air nozzle 6 directed and so located as to direct a current of ,airalong the surface of the water in front of, and as a rule substantially parallel to the lower endcf the plate. A single nozzle only, .of course,. -is

I necessary in the simple construction shown in Figs. ;1 and 2, but in the constructions shown in. Figs. 3 and 4 a nozzle is provided for each plate and they are connected to a. common supply pipe 16. The pipe 16 may be'connccted to any suitable blower.

' I find that if the plates are so arranged that the chords of the arcs of their cross sections are at right angles to the sides of the tank into which they dip, that floating particles have a tendency to stick; after passing the center as the space between any two plates necessarily narrows toward. each side.

I overcome this difliculty by setting the plates as shown in Fig. 7 with said chords inclined to the sides of the tank but parallel to one another. The space between any two plates then necessarily widens from one side to the other and no sticking will occur if the floating particles are blown from the narrower. to the wider end.

It .will be understood, of course, that the apparatus is adapted for use in separating by flotation any floatable ores, particularly ores containing mixtures of sulfids. The ores may be treated in any of the well known ways to facilitate flotation, as,'for example,

'' v by the addition of-a'cids or alkali or other chemical reagents and topulps agitated with oils or otherreagents adapted' to facilitate flotation.

What Iclaim as my invention is: 1. In ore flotation apparatus, the combination of a feed receptai'zlelol pulp a plu- I therefore provide for each plate rality of substantially parallel relatively closely set and overlappin inclined plates on to each of which saif receptacle discharges, and a second liquid containi receptacle to which the inclined plateQdischarge, said receptacle having an overflow.

charges, said platcs being shape to spread the pulp out in fan shape thereon;.' and a.-

second liquid containing'receptacle to which the inclined plates discharge, said receptacle having an overflow discharge. v

3. In ore flotation apparatus, the com-' bination of a feed receptacle for pulp;. a

plurality of substantially parallel relatively closely set and overlapping inclined plates on to each of which said receptacle discharges, said plates being convexly curved in cross section to spread the pulp out in fan shape thereon; and a second liquid containingfreceptacle to which the inclined plates discharge, said receptacle having an I overflow discharge.

tion of a feed receptacle for pulp; a plurality of substantially parallel relatively closely 4. In ore flotation apparatus, the combina- V set and overlapping inclined substantially triangular plates on to each of which. said receptacle discharges, said plates being shaped L;

to spread the pulp out in fan shape thereon;

and a' second liquid containing receptacle to which the-inclined plates dis ceptacle having an overflow dischar e. a g 5. In ore flotation apparatus, t e com bination of a feed receptacle for pulp; a plu rality of substantially parallel relatively closely set and overlapping inclined plates on to each of which said receptacle dis charges, said plates'being shaped to spread the pulp out in fan shape thereon; a second receptacle tq which'the inclined charge; and a plurality of air; nozzles adapted to discharge currents org air along the surface of the water in thefsecondire ceptaclein front of the inclined plates.

6. In ore flotation apparatus, the coni-v plates dis.

bination of a, feed receptacle for pulp; a plurality of substantially *parallel relatively closely set and overlapping inclined plates on toeach of which said receptacle discharges, said plates being in cross section to sprea. the pulp out in which the inclined plates discharge; and'a plurality of air nozzles adapted to dischargen h' I bination of a feed receptacle for pulp ;"a plu i convexly curved tan shape thereon; a second receptacle to ,shape thereon; a second receptacle to which the inclined plates discharge; and a plurality of air nozzles adapted to ('lischarge currents of air along the surface of the water in the second receptacle in front of the inclined plates.

8. In ore flotation apparatus the combination of a tank having an overflow discharge and a plurality of substantially parallel relatively closely set and overlapping inclined plates dipping into said tankfs'aid plates being curved in cross section and set with their convex sides uppermost, the plates also being set with the chords of their cross sectional curves inclined to the sides of the tank to cause the spaces between the plates to increase in width from one side toward the other.

9. In ore flotation apparatus, the combination of a tank and a plurality of substantially parallel relatively closely set and overlapping inclined plates dipping into said tank, said plates being curred in cross section and 'ivith their convex sides up: permost, the plates also being set Withthe chords-of their cross sectional curves inclined to the sides ofthe tank to cause the spaces between the plates to increase in Width from one side toward the other, and means for blowing air between said plates in the direction of said increase ofwidth.

10. In ore flotation apparatus, the combination of a feed receptacle for pulp; a plurality of substantially parallel relatively closely set and overlapping inclined plates on to each' of which said receptacle discharges, a second receptacle to which the inclined plates discharge; and. a plurality of air nozzles adapted to discharge currents of air along the surface of the water in the sec- "ond receptacle in front of the inclined plates.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 10th day of April, 191.5, in the presence of the two imdersigned witnesses.

HERBERT E. T. HAULTAIN.

"lVit-ncsses: a

G110. PnMacnm,

N. R. TYNDALL. 

